Community User Policy

Franklin D. Schurz Library and Wiekamp Educational Resource Commons

A community patron is an Indiana Resident who is not currently enrolled or employed by Indiana University.

The Franklin D. Schurz Library and the Dorothy J. Wiekamp Educational Resource Commons are open to everyone. Indiana residents with valid credentials may check out materials and use designated public computers.

Borrowing materials

Indiana residents (18 and older) who are not currently enrolled or employed at IU may obtain a Indiana University Libraries Borrower’s Card at the Circulation Desk. To receive this card, present a valid INDIANA STATE ID , along with 2 pieces of mail postmarked within the last month from their home address. Exception: Local teachers may use their school faculty IDs instead of mail received at their home. The Card is nontransferable. The Card may be renewed annually.

Students attending universities and colleges participating in the Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI) program may present a valid/current ALI card from their home institution to obtain a Indiana University Libraries Borrower’s Card. Due to the research level of our collections, high school students are encouraged to visit their school and public libraries before coming to the Schurz Library and WERC.

Note: Minors without a valid IN State picture ID must have a parent or guardian apply, in person and with their own ID, for a borrower's card. Applications, found at the IU Franklin D. Schurz Circulation Desk or the Dorothy J. Wiekamp Educational Resource Commons, state that the parent agrees:

the child will comply with all its rules and regulations.

to pay all fines, to make good any loss or damages (at current replacement cost) to materials, and

to give immediate notice of any changes of address.

that the child's borrower's card gives him/her the ability to request an account to have unfiltered access to resources in the building and the Internet.

If you are unable to come into the library, you may be able to borrow materials through the interlibrary loan service at your institution's library or your local public library.

Loan Periods

Community users may check out up to five items at any given time. For most circulating materials, the loan period is 30 days. Recalled items must be returned promptly. Please consult the Circulation page for complete information about loan periods, renewals, and fines.

Public Computer Use

Using the Indiana University Libraries Borrower’s Card, you may use one of the four designated public computers in the Schurz Library or Education Resouce Commons for 2 hours per day. User IDs and passwords may be obtained from the Circulation desk. Students, staff, and faculty of IU South Bend have priority on all computers. Printing is .05 per single page or .08 double-sided page. Photocopying is .10 per black and white page or .30 per color page.

Community user accounts are subject to the IU Policy (IT-01) defining the appropriate use of information and technology resources. Resources (including passwords) may not be:

shared with or transferred to others,

used in a manner that violates the law,

used for private commercial activities that are not approved by the university,

used for personal private gain, or for political campaigning and similar activities that are inconsistent with the university's tax-exempt status.

Licensed online databases

The Library’s licensed online databases are available from the public computers. Remote access to these resources is limited to IU South Bend faculty, staff, and students due to strict licensing contracts. The exception is IUCAT, the IU wide online catalog of holdings. IUCAT may be searched from off campus locations.

Interlibrary Loan
Indiana community users and students from other institutions should place interlibrary loan requests through their local public library. We provide a limited Interlibrary Loan service for those community users. Requests are limited to five items at one time. Items for loan are only obtained from in-state libraries outside the local area.

Journal articles can be requested if the lending institution does not charge a fee.

Privileges will be suspended when an item is more than two (2) weeks overdue or if an item is not returned and the bill for replacement has not been paid.

Orientation
A self-guided audio tour of the Library is available at the Service Desk located on the first floor in the Hammes Information Commons.

Reference and Research Assistance
Reference librarians are available most hours that the Library is open for in-person, phone, or electronic assistance in finding informational or research material.

Government Publications
The Schurz Library is a partial Federal Government Depository and makes available many print and online government documents, most of which may be borrowed. Assistance in using this collection is available.

Special Collections
The Schurz Library has a number of special collections such as the James Lewis Casaday Theatre Collection, the Christianson Lincoln Collection, and the Ruchti POW collection. More detailed information can be found on the Archives/Special Collections web site. Those who wish to use these collections must make arrangements in advance with the Archivist, Alison Stankrauff.

Dorothy J. Wiekamp Educational Resource Commons

The Dorothy J. Wiekamp Educational Resource Commons (WERC), a specialized library housed in Education and Arts building, contains pre-K through 12 curriculum and teacher training. The WERC makes a wide assortment of media production equipment available for use in creating posters, bulletin boards, etc. WERC personnel are available to assist users in finding information and making visual aids. Detailed information, including production pricing, is available in the WERC.

FOR CLASSES AND GROUPS NOT AFFILIATED WITH IU SOUTH BEND

Classes and community groups are invited to use the many collections and services. Because of limited space and resources, we ask that arrangements should be made in advance.

High School Classes
High school teachers, in cooperation with their high school librarian, are encouraged to bring their students to the Schurz Library for research. The high school librarian's participation in these visits is strongly encouraged. Home schooled groups are also invited to use the Schurz Library's resources. Arrangements must be made at least one week in advance. To cause the least disruption to IU South Bend students, high school class visits generally should be on a Friday or during a break at IU South Bend. Upon request, the librarians will offer, at no charge, a brief instruction session and overview of the Schurz Library. If appropriate information about the students is provided in advance, Circulation staff will have IU Library borrower's cards and guest accounts for each student ready at the time of the visit. The students are responsible for any items that they check out and must return the items to the IU SOUTH BEND Libraries by the due date. To schedule your group or for further information, contact Nancy Colborn, the Head of Information Literacy, at 574-520-4321.

The research level of materials in the IU South Bend Schurz Library is generally too scholarly and academic in nature for students in K-8th grade. We suggest that those classes use the area public libraries for supplemental resources to their school library. If a teacher has reasons to expose a younger group to an academic library, arrangements may be made by contacting the Head of Information Literacy.

College Classes
Instructors at other higher education institutions should first work with a librarian at their home institution. If the IU South Bend Schurz Library/WERC has specialized resources needed by classes which are not available at the other institution's library, instructors, in cooperation with their institution's librarian, may contact the IU South Bend Head of Information Literacy to make arrangements for a class visit.

Institutions that have insufficient resources or library services to support their curriculums may enter into a contractual agreement with IU South Bend to provide greater use of the IU South Bend Libraries resources, facilities and services. The Office of Academic Affairs at 520-4183 handles such arrangements. If included in the written agreement, instructors may make advance arrangements with Nancy Colborn, the Head of Information Literacy, for a class visit and instruction. Nancy also can discuss possible alternatives for those institutions who do not seek formal understanding.

Community Groups (not affiliated with high schools or colleges)
The librarians at IU South Bend welcome the opportunity to introduce community groups to the academic resources available on a variety of topics. Arrangements should be made with Julie Elliott, the Coordinator of Public Relations.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Dean of Library Services, Vicki Bloom at 520-4448. Contact Us provides a complete directory of Library and WERC personnel and departments.